Chainsaw Repair

Husqvarna - Stihl - Poulan - Jonsered - Dolmar chainsaws and more => Husqvarna => Topic started by: patgizz on October 26, 2013, 11:06:43 am

Title: 455 rancher dies at WOT
Post by: patgizz on October 26, 2013, 11:06:43 am
last week i was using my 455 rancher to cut a broken branch off a tree in my yard.  once the limb was down, i started clearing the little branches from it.  i turned my saw 90 degrees to the ground, and immediately it lost power and would not rev past halfway unless i baby the throttle, and at that point it has no power under load, as soon as i try to cut it will bog down, no matter which way i hold it. 

i use the saw as a homeowner, not as a tree contractor.  i have a small home that i heat with wood, and the saw sees light use every month.  I make sure to run premium gas mixed with the correct amount of oil, and never leave gas in it if i know it will sit for more than a few weeks.  it can't have more than 2 hours of run time as i bought it halfway through last winter.

the saw is not even a year old.  I checked the basics, the plug looked fine but i cleaned it anyway.  the air filter still looks brand new and is not dirty.  this is where my lack of small engine knowledge kicks in and my automotive background says start checking things like the fuel filter. 

should i look deeper at anything or just take it in to a factory service place and get it looked at under warranty?
Title: Re: 455 rancher dies at WOT
Post by: 660magnum on October 26, 2013, 11:17:54 am
Being that new it probably needs the carburetor mixture needles adjusted?
Title: Re: 455 rancher dies at WOT
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on October 26, 2013, 11:24:58 am
+1 on what 660 said, take it to your dealer and show them what it is doing, don't just tell them start the saw and demonstrate the problem to them. When you turn the saw on its side and it bogs, which side does this happen on or does it exhibit this behavior no matter which side it is turned?

I have seen a couple of saws that did this because the fuel hose inside the tank was tangled and would not let the filter/pickup drop to the bottom of the tank. Especially when the tank is only partially full.
Title: Re: 455 rancher dies at WOT
Post by: patgizz on October 26, 2013, 12:33:52 pm
it began immediately when i tipped the saw on it's side and has not changed since.  i turned it back level and it still will not go WOT. 

i can go sit it level and start it right now and there is no change in the way it runs, i have to baby the throttle to get it to keep running at anything but idle.  i'm just puzzled as this was an immediate change from cutting perfectly to running poorly, not a gradual change.  out of the box the saw was perfect up until yesterday.  i'm not in the position to take it to a shop and show them the issue if they say it is out of warranty and charge me more than $50 to fix it, $ is tight hence the heating with wood instead of oil.

i did find my receipt, i purchased it 11/1/12 so not quite one year old.  i can count on both hands the number of logs i have cut with it so far.
Title: Re: 455 rancher dies at WOT
Post by: 660magnum on October 26, 2013, 12:45:35 pm
You can change your fuel to a different kind of oil and run into a problem like this
Title: Re: 455 rancher dies at WOT
Post by: KilliansRedLeo on October 26, 2013, 12:48:10 pm
Lay it on the clutch side, open the fuel cap and listen carefully as you do, if you hear a hiss (air entering the tank) the tank vent is probably clogged. Put the cap back on and start the saw, if the problem goes away you definitely have a fuel delivery problem. Look on the black tag and tell us when the saw was manufactured, or post a picture of the tag.

Does your saw have a purge bulb? Have you checked the hoses that connect to the bulb?
Title: Re: 455 rancher dies at WOT
Post by: jmester on October 26, 2013, 03:10:05 pm
I am thinking carb kit. Ethanol fuel and a lot of sitting don't mix. I would play with the adjustment screws some and see if you can get any difference out of it. Does a 455 have a limited coil ?
Title: Re: 455 rancher dies at WOT
Post by: alsled on October 26, 2013, 04:38:54 pm
Fuel line broken between tank and carb, right by the tank.  That was the issue with a Husky 51 I had, sounded just like what yours is doing.
Title: Re: 455 rancher dies at WOT
Post by: patgizz on October 26, 2013, 10:24:07 pm
You can change your fuel to a different kind of oil and run into a problem like this

you hit it on the head.  i changed oil brands the last can i mixed.  i took it to the service place, he ran it and said go get some new gas, put some stabil in it, get good name brand of oil, and run it.  drained the tank, ran the carb dry, put the new mix in, and as soon as the new fuel was through everything the saw runs like new again.

i have always run echo 2 stroke oil, but i was in a pinch and got some no name brand stuff last time.
Title: Re: 455 rancher dies at WOT
Post by: 660magnum on October 26, 2013, 10:25:33 pm
Good to hear you got it going